at much over 2,000,000,000,000 tons. If coal produc- 

 tion continues to increase as it has in the last 90 years, 

 the available supply will be greatly reduced by the close 

 of the century. Before that time arrives, however, 

 resort to lower grades and sinking of mines to greater 

 depths will become necessary; making the product in- 

 ferior in quality and higher in price. Already Great 

 Britain's industries have felt the check from a similar 

 cause, as shown in her higher cost of production. Our 

 turn will begin probably within a generation or two 

 from this time. Yet we still think nothing of consum- 

 ing this priceless resource with the greatest possible 

 speed. Our methods of mining are often wasteful; 

 and we not only prohibit our industries from having re- 

 course to the coal supplies of other countries, but actu- 

 ally pride ourselves upon becoming exporters of a 

 prime necessity of life and an essential of civilization. 

 The iron industry tells a similar story. The total 

 of iron ore mined in the United States doubles about 

 once in seven years. It was less than 12,000,000 tons 

 in 1893, over 24,000,000 tons in 1899, 47,750,000 tons 

 in 1906 and over 52,000,000 tons in 1907. The rising 

 place of iron in the world's life is the most impressive 

 phenomenon of the last century. In 1850 the pig iron 

 production of the United States amounted to 563,758 

 tons, or about 50 pounds per capita. Our production 

 now is over 600 pounds per capita. We do not work a 

 mine, build a house, weave a fabric, prepare a meal or 

 cultivate an acre of ground under modern methods 

 without the aid of iron. We turn out over 25,000,000 



